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Firm Structure, Search and Environmental Complexity

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Author Info
Jason Barr ()
Nobuyuki Hanaki ()

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Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between environmental complexity and firm organization. We ask: Given the complexity of the environment, which organizational structure and level of decision making authority optimizes performance of a firm? We assume the information processing organization is arranged hierarchically, but that decisions can be made at different levels, and thus centralization directly relates to the quantity of information used in making a decision. We model the external environment as a modified NK landscape. Via simulations, we explore which type of organizational structure and level of decision making maximizes firm profits, given the complexity of the environment.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Department of Economics, Rutgers University, Newark in its series Working Papers Rutgers University, Newark with number 2005-007.

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Length: 33 pages
Date of creation: Oct 2005
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:run:wpaper:2005-007

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Related research
Keywords: Information Processing; Organizational Structure; Rugged Landscapes;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods and Programming - - - Computational Techniques
L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior

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References listed on IDEAS
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  1. Myong-Hun Chang & Joseph E Harrington, 2000. "Organization of Innovation in a Multi-Unit Firm: Coordinating Adaptive Search on Multiple Rugged Landscapes," Economics Working Paper Archive 442, The Johns Hopkins University,Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  2. Pakes, A. & Ericson, R., 1990. "Empirical Implications Of Alternative Models Of Firm Dynamics," Papers 594, Yale - Economic Growth Center.
    Other versions:
  3. David, Paul A, 1985. "Clio and the Economics of QWERTY," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 75(2), pages 332-37, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. Jovanovic, Boyan, 1982. "Selection and the Evolution of Industry," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(3), pages 649-70, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  5. Pakes, Ariel & Ericson, Richard, 1998. "Empirical Implications of Alternative Models of Firm Dynamics," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 79(1), pages 1-45, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  6. Myong-Hun Chang & Joseph Harrington, 2000. "Centralization vs. Decentralization in a Multi-Unit Organization: A Computational Model of a Retail Chain as a Multi-Agent Adaptive System," Econometric Society World Congress 2000 Contributed Papers 0860, Econometric Society. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  7. Langlois, Richard N., 2002. "Modularity in technology and organization," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 19-37, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  8. Raghuram Rajan & Julie Wulf, 2003. "The Flattening Firm: Evidence from Panel Data on the Changing Nature of Corporate Hierarchies," NBER Working Papers 9633, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  9. Auerswald, Philip & Kauffman, Stuart & Lobo, Jose & Shell, Karl, 2000. "The production recipes approach to modeling technological innovation: An application to learning by doing," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 389-450, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  10. Barr, Jason & Saraceno, Francesco, 2002. "A computational theory of the firm," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 345-361, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  11. Kauffman, Stuart & Lobo, Jose & Macready, William G., 2000. "Optimal search on a technology landscape," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 141-166, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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